Anyone worried about I’m A Celebrity-style creepy crawlies overrunning their homes can turn to a new company formed from two independent pest control firms in Kent.

A unified business has been created after Safeguard Pest Control in Westerham and Arrowguard Environmental Services in Ryarsh, near West Malling, joined forces last week.

The merger retains both company identities, to cause no disruption to customers and suppliers.

Boths firms’ services will be brought together to improve support for their clients, offering wider protection to offices, schools, hospitals, housing, commercial estates and the construction industry.

A statement on the merger was issued by Arrowhead managing director Ken Hazeltine and Safeguard directors Tim Sheehan and Paul Butterick.

It said: “This integration of two successful, long-standing companies allows all our customers to obtain the benefits of additional shared resources to guarantee a fast service response and high delivery standards.

“This is an exciting opportunity to set higher industry standards and develop long term employment opportunities for our existing staff and prospective new employees.”

The companies' GrowthAccelerator advisor is Strategic Management Partners.

Founder Clive Bonny said: “This strategic merger of two successful owner-managed companies enables both to now provide a wider range of cost-effective services to commercial facilities managers.

“This is great news for the UK health and safety industry and for buyers of these specialist services.”